Please bookmark my upcoming novel about a grandparent and grandchild, The Sage Emperor Training Plan (Three Shadows at War), coming soon!
Lin Yan, founding empress of the Great Ning Dynasty, was born to a poor family and raised in the lowly register. Three women across two generations of her family were all celebrated courtesans in the capital.
Lin Yan was the second-generation courtesan who could swagger through Pingkang Lane without fear. Until her friend "paid with her life for a dog," she took up the belongings of the leader of the Pure Stream faction and wandered all night in the winter cold. At dawn, Lin Yan knocked on the door of Chancellor Chu's residence and said, "Young master, I'm willing to leave the respectable register and enter the lowly one."
Eight-year-old Lin Yan didn't know what being in the lowly register meant. She only knew she wanted to become someone as powerful as her mother.
Later, the young Lord Lin would shake the court and the country, yet she could never escape the label of "a family of courtesans." On another winter night, at dawn, Lin Yan said to herself, "If the world won't accept my humble origins, I'll seek shelter in an immortal legacy of great achievements."
The shame of our southward retreat remains unavenged.
The grief of Zhanghua, when will it end?
"Young master, I want to become empress." In the Archive Pavilion, surrounded by endless books, Lin Yan smiled alluringly and walked away with a carefree stride. "The great deeds of the ages all come down to a few pages of history. The right and wrong of my life, Lin Yan's merits and failures, can be judged by those who come after me."
Her voice faded into the bitter wind.
The young man who had cherished her from childhood had become emperor. As he watched her resolute figure leave, a single tear fell onto the mottled railing.
"One lone lamp, unspent, passes the spark to the stars. For all my life, I'll be the gull that ferries you across."
Many years later, the realm was at peace. After keeping their marriage contract for fifteen years and proposing ten times, the gentle and refined young nobleman was finally driven to desperation by the stubborn woman. He flopped down and said, "Why not let the empress choose her husband?"
*
History records: At the founding of Great Ning, there were two emperors in one dynasty.
Emperor Yuanwu, Lin Yan, excelled in both civil and military affairs. On the battlefield, her orders were absolute; at court, she could turn the tides of power.
Emperor Kangwen, Chu Yi, rode out to drive off the northern invaders and dismounted to establish order at court. He was as bright and clear as the moon, never rattled by adversity.
History does not record:
Only in front of Chu Yi would Lin Yan act coy, feel guilty, pound the table when angry, and sob and gasp when wronged. The thing Lin Yan was most grateful for in her life was that Chu Yi had sent her into the arena of power. Under his careful protection, she never lost her innocence, and gained a world in which to spread her wings.
Only when he was with Lin Yan would Chu Yi feel helpless and anxious, surrender when she made a fuss, and be at a loss when she cried. The thing Chu Yi regretted most in his life was sending Lin Yan into the arena of power, where thorns awaited her at every turn. Lin Yan's eyes held their own brilliant light. Chu Yi didn't dare hold her too tightly, afraid of breaking her wings; he didn't dare let go, afraid she'd return wounded with no one to rely on.
My other novel in this series about grandparents and grandchildren, Raising an Eternal Emperor Through Multiple Personalities (A little schemer juggling three identities to cause trouble):
Princess schemer with a pile of secret identities x loyal young emperor with great ambition
[Short blurb]
The young emperor was steadfastly in love with the noble and mysterious young lord of the fiefdom, Sister Yun. Then a clever, spirited, willful little princess bounced into his world...
The maids who know the princess is the young lord: Young lord, please stop putting on an act. If you tease His Majesty into becoming a villain one day, you won't be giggling anymore.
After the late emperor's untimely death, the empress's relatives seized power, the great families were deeply entrenched, and the lords of the fiefs watched like tigers. The little princess was ordered to go to the capital, help the puppet emperor take control of the government, and train him into an "emperor for the ages."
To accomplish this impossible task, Yun Fei created three secret identities:
*
Beloved young lord of the Yun clan: Yun Fei.
Yun Fei gazed up at him with sparkling eyes, coughing blood in the wind: "Brother, you're so outstanding. You'll surely become an emperor for the ages one day."
The puppet emperor, who could barely keep his throne, looked at the frail, coughing girl. Her words "I believe you," spoken in the dim candlelight, became the one thing holding his world together.
The young emperor swore to himself: If I ever betray Sister Yun, may the heavens strike me down.
**
Devious little princess: Yan Fei.
The charming little princess sent to the capital as a hostage was the young emperor's natural enemy. On the very first day they met, she called him a "wimp" in front of everyone and went all out with her dirty tricks.
The young emperor ground his teeth: If I ever look at you again, may the heavens strike me down!
Young master of the wealthy Shen family: Shen Fei.
The young master of the wealthy merchant clan was the young emperor's closest friend and confidant.
The young emperor: "Close enough to share a pair of pants... Wait, say that again. Sister Yun is your fiancee?"
The young emperor: "Like a bolt from the blue."
The little schemer took turns deploying her three secret identities and "psychologically manipulated" an "emperor for the ages" into existence.
The little princess was set on running away to pursue her career, but a shadow suddenly loomed over her. The "emperor for the ages" she'd misled for ten years stopped her and whispered in her ear, "Princess Yan, don't panic. There are plenty of accounts I need to settle with you. My dear sister who's supposedly on her deathbed...?"
Yan Fei played dumb: "Your Majesty, your young lord Yun has already married Young Master Shen!"
Xuan Ji: "Oh, I don't mind. An emperor may take his subject's wife."
Yan Fei: "Giggles turn into no giggles. How do I play the next scene? Help, urgently!"
Theme: Every generation has its own mission.
Pointed! Troubled times, espionage, conspiracy, none of them can sum up our Yan'er's great achievements and magnificent life [Spread Flowers]
In fact, compared to the Binhe Mansion, Xiyong's embassy, and the palace-turned-Chu State, being able to watch the fireworks and talk about military affairs in Wenjian Pavilion is quite romantic. How could we have such conditions before 🐶
I remembered the night when Mrs. Lin asked me to hand over my sister. Tonight, the prosperous night market is the empire built by the empress, and it is great to be surrounded by real family members!
I was the one who married Lin Yan earlier than Chu Yi two days ago. Now I have changed my mind. Chu Yi should be the eldest daughter-in-law. Just give me a chance to enter the palace and serve the empress 🎆
The young master is like a radar. He has never been able to hide Yan'er's injuries or illnesses from him 😂
My name is Chu Yi. I will marry you directly... How about Chu Yi wait a moment? I want to marry Yan'er first.
I know Yan'er is angry, but the cursing in these chapters is true. It's really fun to scold at a level and in a variety of ways [covering face and peeking]
Teacher Lin, who was used to leading the top class, suddenly took over the bad class. Suddenly I discovered that Yan'er is the 22-year-old Queen Mother, hahahaha
It's so sweet that it makes me cry 😭 How many true words can only be said when drunk and at a critical moment of life and death 😭
This is a trick that makes everything go smoothly 😂 I seriously doubt that the young master has used this trick before, but Yan'er fell for it again and again.